Girlfriend's cousin killed after argument at family barbecue

Josiah Darroux, 23, was arraigned Monday on a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting death of James "Jim" Brink, 30, a construction worker.

According to Anchorage police, Darroux was dating Brink's cousin.

At the barbecue, Brink confronted Darroux over an earlier incident in which Darroux had allegedly beaten his girlfriend, according to court documents and witnesses.

Friends and family of the dead man attended Darroux's first court appearance Monday. His bail was set at $250,000.

After the hearing, outside the courtroom, a relative of the dead man cried as another woman held her up.

"Anybody that walks away from a man dying in his wife's arms just doesn't deserve to ever get out on bail," said the victim's wife, Sally Brink.

According to court documents, Brink a few days before the Sunday shooting had argued with Darroux in a phone conversation over Darroux's treatment of his girlfriend.

On Sunday, Brink's family from Kasigluk, a Kuskokwim River village, held its regular weekend gathering, said family friend Rance G. Brannon. Darroux appeared at Brink's home on East 42nd Avenue and the men again had an altercation.

Charging documents contain conflicting statements about whether Brink and Darroux physically fought at the barbecue or just argued.

The cousin at the center of the dispute, Olianne Tinker, told police that Brink put his hands around Darroux's neck. Tinker said she then grabbed Brink by the neck and Brink let go of Darroux.

Other witnesses said there was little to no physical contact.

Witnesses told police that Darroux went to his car parked outside the apartment building and Brink followed.

Darroux opened the trunk of his car and pulled out a shotgun. He pumped it once and shot in the direction of Brink and missed, police said. Brink put his hands out, open palmed, and began walking toward Darroux, Brannon said.

Darroux pumped the gun again and shot Brink in the torso, according to court documents.

"He stumbled around, grabbed his chest ... then fell to the ground while he was looking at us," Brannon said. "We rushed towards him and the guy took off in the car."

Darroux fled the scene to a home in Fairview, where he called 911, court documents said.